Haruto reached out toward the stone cocoon, his expression calm. "Come on, Naoki. Enough. You're my friend, not my enemy. Just take my hand."
Cracks splintered across the Stone Shell.
"Come out, Naok!" Haruto urged.
But as the stone casing shattered apart, Haruto realized Naoki had already broken free from behind it. The shell crumbled uselessly to the ground, and there he stood—wand gleaming in his grip as he raised it defiantly.
"You think I'll lose this easily, Haruto? You're wrong! My final move is still left! Rainfall Barrage!"
He thrust his wand upward and whipped it down. The sky answered. A torrent of blazing arrows poured from above, streaking down like a deadly storm.
Some pierced Haruto's body, slamming into his arms and shoulder, their fiery tips burning into his flesh. He clenched his teeth but refused to fall. Instead of running, he raised his hand skyward.
"Light Magic: Radiant Aegis!"
Above him, a small circular surface of shimmering light formed. It expanded into a thin, translucent shield that hovered like a flat halo, intercepting the storm. Arrows crashed into it with ringing impacts, shattering in sparks of flame, while those directly above him ricocheted harmlessly away.
Naoki flinched, frustration twisting his face. He canceled the spell, the raining arrows vanishing before touching the ground. His wand dissolved from his hand, replaced by swirling smoke that curled in his palms. He muttered a new chant.
"Blaze Element: Smoldering Veil!"
The smoke swelled rapidly, expanding from the small globes in his hands into thick clouds that rolled across the battlefield. The haze swallowed everything, turning the air into a choking gray fog.
Naoki grinned faintly. "This should blind him. Even I can barely see in here, but at least I know where he is. He won't see me coming."
Pressing himself against the side of a tree, he summoned his bow and drew an arrow. He leveled it at Haruto's legs through the smoky blur. The instant he loosed it, Haruto snapped his hands together, fingers interlocked.
"Black Magic: Devouring Shroud!"
The world changed.
The ordinary smoke thickened and darkened, twisting into heavy black clouds that devoured all light. The entire battlefield was plunged into void-like darkness. Naoki gasped, spinning in panic.
"D-Dark Magic?"
From afar, Einzuro's eyes narrowed. "Another secret? Both Dark and Light magic in the same vessel… impossible."
Sayuri clutched her chest. "Two thousand years, and never once has a person been born holding both Dark and Light together."
Reina whispered breathlessly. "I never imagined… Haruto, you're truly extraordinary."
Naoki stumbled backward, firing arrows blindly into the dark. From the black smoke, a pale hand emerged silently, catching one of his arrows mid-flight before fading back into the void.
Terror struck Naoki. He frantically drew again, infusing flame into the arrow and firing—but the fire sputtered out midair, the magic vanishing, leaving only a normal shaft.
"What—?! My magic?" He tried to summon his wand again. Nothing. He chanted spell after spell, old and new, and each one flickered for an instant before dying away, snuffed out by the suffocating smoke.
"No… no, this can't be real. Dark Magic doesn't—this isn't possible!"
Footsteps echoed through the thick darkness. Haruto emerged before him, his silhouette outlined by the smoke itself. In his hand, he held the very arrow Naoki had fired.
Naoki stumbled back in fear, his foot catching on a root. He crashed to the ground, scrambling away like a frightened child. Haruto loomed above him, raising the arrow—yet instead of striking, he let it slip from his hand. It clattered uselessly against the ground.
Then, slowly, he extended his palm. His voice was calm, gentle. "Stand up, my friend. This test is over."
Naoki froze, staring up at him. For a moment, all he saw was Haruto's hand extended through the darkness—like a ray of hope piercing the void. Hesitantly, his trembling hand reached upward. When their palms clasped, Haruto pulled him to his feet.
With a faint smile tugging at his lips, Haruto said, "Come on, le—"
But suddenly, an eye appeared between them, glowing with mystical energy. Both froze in shock. Einzuro's voice thundered from it.
"Haruto! Deactivate your magic immediately!"
"But Sensei, wh—"
A deafening heartbeat pounded through Haruto's chest. His body jerked, his breath hitching as if an invisible fist had seized his lungs. He clutched his chest, gasping, his breaths breaking into uncontrollable shudders.
Lightning sparked overhead. In the blink of an eye, Einzuro descended with Sayuri and Reina by his side. "Sayuri! Heal him now!"
"Yes, Lord Einzuro!" Sayuri answered with her usual cheerful energy, rushing forward.
Haruto staggered, still clutching his chest, but Sayuri pressed her hand gently against his back. A green glow pulsed from her fingers, shimmering with soothing warmth. His breathing slowly steadied, his body easing under the healing light.
"Reina," Einzuro commanded, "tend to Naoki."
Reina looked away, flustered. "I-I'll… I'll heal him later. Just give me a moment." Her cheeks burned, her eyes refusing to meet Naoki's. His clothes had been scorched away by the fight—she could not bring herself to step closer.
Sayuri's eyes widened. She noticed Haruto's Blaze Mark burning faintly, then fading, slipping from his left cheek as though erased. "Lord Einzuro! Is this because of the Blaze Mark disappearing?"
Einzuro shook his head grimly. "No… that mark isn't the cause. This is different."
Reina blinked. "Then what is it?"
"Dark Magic overuse," Einzuro explained. "When Haruto used his Light Magic or other abilities, he could feel his energy draining. He knew how much he had left. But Dark Energy is different—it hides that feeling, numbs the user, and pushes them past their limits without warning. That's why his body collapsed. If he hadn't deactivated it when I ordered, he would've died… without even realizing it."
Haruto struggled to catch his breath. "Dark Magic? But I used… Black Magic."
Sayuri shook her head firmly. "That was Dark Magic, Haruto. You're just calling it Black Magic. Its true name has always been Dark."
Reina shivered. "And to think… it even blocked the pain of the Blaze Mark. How dangerous can this be?"
Einzuro nodded. "That's exactly what Renzaki has been training to control. Haruto, you must train with him as well. And when it comes to Light Magic…" He smiled, jabbing his thumb playfully at himself. "Come straight to me."
Then he straightened, his tone shifting lightly. "But for now… Sayuri!"
The tension eased as Sayuri grinned and saluted. "Yes sir! Tell me, what task do you have for me?"
"For tonight," Einzuro said, "we'll rest here in this forest. Sayuri, can you keep the area steady with your healing magic?"
Sayuri stomped her foot with mock pride and saluted again. "Yes sir! Piece of cake!"
She clapped her hands together, releasing a flurry of glowing green particles. They floated through the air, settling like gentle snow, healing wounds and soothing exhaustion wherever they touched.
Naoki stood nearby, head bowed, guilt written on his face. He refused to meet Haruto's eyes. "Haruto… forgive me. This was all my fault. I let my rage consume me. I'm… I'm sorry."
Haruto breathed deeply, exhaling with calm relief as the healing particles brushed against him. He turned with a warm, forgiving smile. "It's alright. I forgive you, Naoki. After all, you're my friend."
Naoki's eyes widened, shimmering faintly with something close to hope. He hadn't expected forgiveness—not after what he had done.
Einzuro chuckled approvingly. "Good. Keep that bond alive. This was just a test, nothing more. Don't think your lives will always be battles like this. Promise me you'll stay united."
Haruto and Naoki glanced at each other, then nodded firmly. "We promise! We'll never abandon one another, and we'll protect our friendship forever!"
Reina's cheeks flushed red as she looked away. "S-Sensei… let's just… move on. I'll catch up in a bit."
"What's the rush?" Einzuro teased.
"N-no, I just… have something to—"
Her excuse was cut short as Naoki rushed toward her with arms spread wide. "Ah, Reina! I just remembered—you didn't even heal me yet! I want to feel your gentle hands heal me! Please, do it now!"
Blissfully oblivious, he ran at her with a grin—forgetting entirely that his clothes had been completely burned away. Reina's face turned scarlet in shock.
In a blur, her foot shot upward.
BAM!
Her kick smashed directly into Naoki's face. The force rippled outward in slow motion, his expression warping comically before he was launched backward, crashing into a tree with a groan.
"Stay away from me!" Reina shouted, blushing furiously. "At least put some clothes on first!"
Haruto yelped, instinctively covering himself. Leaves sprouted from the ground, weaving into makeshift trousers. He stood stiffly upright, cheeks burning, terrified of meeting Reina's wrath.
Einzuro burst into laughter. "Hah! I knew your clothes would burn to ash! Luckily, I came prepared." With a flick of his hand, clean garments appeared in a shimmer of magic, floating toward the boys.
Scene 2:
From morning until nightfall, the group had been together, and now the sun was dipping low. Its final rays scattered across the canopy before slowly surrendering to dusk. Shadows lengthened, and the cool air of night began to creep in. They had spread a woven mat across the grassy ground—a simple cloth for sitting, not too fine yet not too rough—and gathered around it. Several baskets filled with fruit rested beside them, enough to last but not overflowing.
Reina took a crisp bite from a bright red apple, the crunch breaking the evening quiet. Juice glistened at the corner of her lips as she chewed thoughtfully. "Sensei," she said at last, raising the half-eaten apple slightly, "you called us out for this test early in the morning, and now it's already night. Aren't we going home? And what about Renzaki? Do you think he already left for his place?"
Einzuro leaned forward casually, stretching his hand toward the fruit baskets. Without hurry, he picked up a bunch of grapes, his sharp eyes glinting faintly in the fading light. "Tonight, we'll be spending the night right here. If you're in a rush, you're free to leave. But if you'd rather stay in this calm forest, under these floating healing particles… then rest here."
He tossed the grapes into his mouth all at once, puffing his cheeks full. Instead of chewing properly, he tilted his head back and let the little spheres of fruit fountain out of his mouth, spitting them like seeds before speaking through the act. "As for Renzaki—" a grape shot upward and fell back, bouncing off his lip—"I doubt he's gone home. He's probably still buried in his training. But if he grows tired, I told him he could come here."
Naoki chomped into an apple so large it looked comical, swallowing half of it in one bite. "Sensei, do we really have to spend the whole night here? But… why?"
Einzuro's tone softened, though his posture remained upright. "Because the three of you are worn out. You gave everything you had today, and your bodies must be heavy with exhaustion. A night's rest here is exactly what you need."
Sayuri, sitting cross-legged with a piece of fruit in her hands, leaned forward with a grin. She pointed the bitten fruit as if making a grand announcement. "These healing particles floating in the air—they'll take all that fatigue away. When you wake up in the morning, you'll feel brand new. Like you've slept for a week!"
Einzuro stood, stretching his arms above his head until his back gave a satisfying pop. He released a long, exaggerated yawn, the kind that made even the tired trees look sleepier. "Fuwaaaaahhh… now I really am sleepy." His words slurred slightly from the stretch.
He trudged toward the bushes, waving lazily over his shoulder. "I'm going to sleep. You all should get some rest too."
"Sensei," Haruto asked, tilting his head, "are you really going to sleep somewhere else?"
Einzuro stopped mid-step and chuckled, shaking his head. "No, no, not that." He tugged at the golden trim of his royal suit with visible distaste. "It's just these clothes… this ridiculous suit was made to look impressive, not to be comfortable. Chains, layers, a cape that drags around—how's a man supposed to sleep in peace like this?"
With that, he disappeared behind the bushes. Not even a full second passed before he stepped out again, almost as if he had never gone in at all. His attire had changed entirely. Gone was the stiff royal suit—he now wore simple dark blue shorts and a light blue undershirt, the plainness almost absurd compared to his regal uniform.
The speed of the change made it seem like a trick, but there was no magic involved—just Einzuro's natural swiftness and distaste for wasted time.
Haruto blinked, staring in disbelief. "So… he finds comfort in clothes like that?"
Scene 3:
Hours passed. The full moon climbed high, painting the forest silver with its pale light. A deep quiet settled over the camp, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves.
Einzuro lay sprawled on his back, a thin blanket twisted uselessly around his feet, his mouth hanging open as he snored loud enough to scare small animals away. Not far from him, Naoki slept on his side, his entire body wrapped tightly in his blanket like a cocoon. A bubble swelled and shrank with each breath from his nose, wobbling comically before threatening to pop.
On another mat nearby, Reina and Sayuri rested gracefully, their breathing soft, their positions proper. The two looked almost serene in sleep, untouched by the chaos of the others.
But beside Naoki, Haruto was restless. He tossed left, then right, kicking off his blanket only to pull it back over himself seconds later. His brow furrowed, his legs shifted, and after what felt like an eternity of failed attempts at sleep, his eyes cracked open.
He sat up groggily, rubbing at his face. The forest was utterly still, the air so silent it pressed against his ears. He glanced at his companions—all lost to slumber—then muttered, voice thick with drowsiness, "Not now… I was just about to fall asleep."
Dragging the blanket aside, he pushed himself to his feet, wobbling unsteadily as if the ground had shifted beneath him. His gaze slid toward the base of a nearby tree, where his sword rested in its scabbard, leaning against the roots.
Still half-asleep, Haruto bent down and picked it up, the weight settling into his hand. He slid the weapon into its sheath and tightened the sword-belt around his waist.
His steps were clumsy, shoulders jerking now and then as though he might fall. Half-asleep, he wandered toward the trees, muttering under his breath, "If I don't go now, I'll never get any rest tonight."
He wandered on and on, deeper and deeper into the woods, until at last he slipped out past the trees. Beyond the forest's edge, near a lone boulder, he stopped.
Haruto stood with his back to the open field, hands fumbling with his clothes before adjusting them again. Time trickled slowly as he lingered there, the hush broken only by the faint sound of running water. After a long pause, he pulled his trousers back into place, stretching slightly before turning around.
And froze.
Just a few steps away, the figure appeared under the moonlight.
Its body was tall and unnaturally thin, skin stretched tight over bone. Arms dangled low, fingers curling near the ground.
But the horror was in its heads—two of them, far too large for the frail frame. Each mouth gaped open, crammed with grotesquely long, jagged fangs that overlapped like broken blades, gleaming with hunger.
Four enormous eyes—two on each head—stared unblinking, wide and merciless, as though the creature had never learned to blink. Their gaze pressed down on Haruto like a weight.
Both heads smiled—not in joy, not in malice, but with the certainty of prey already caught.
The forest held its breath.
The demon stood there, tall, thin, smiling through both heads as the night froze in place.
And the scene cut to black.